Definition of jejunenext
1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another moralizing tale filled with jejune platitudes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jejune distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jejune are banal, flat, inane, insipid, and vapid. While all these words mean "devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character," jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance.

a jejune and gassy speech

When might banal be a better fit than jejune?

While the synonyms banal and jejune are close in meaning, banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy.

a banal tale of unrequited love

Where would flat be a reasonable alternative to jejune?

While in some cases nearly identical to jejune, flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest.

although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat

In what contexts can inane take the place of jejune?

The words inane and jejune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality.

an inane interpretation of the play

When is insipid a more appropriate choice than jejune?

The words insipid and jejune can be used in similar contexts, but insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest.

an insipid romance with platitudes on every page

When would vapid be a good substitute for jejune?

In some situations, the words vapid and jejune are roughly equivalent. However, vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit.

an exciting story given a vapid treatment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jejune
Adjective
  • Never gets boring, never feels overplayed.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
  • Pool, sauna, indoor fireplace, luggage drop-off, backyard With so much history and color around every corner in Marrakesh, why stay somewhere boring?
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The literature on adolescence marks middle school as a turning point, a time when kids begin to pull away from their parents, discard childish pursuits, and pursue, full thrust, the exhausting project of individuation.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • That’s as childish an expression as the show ever shares.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran — theyr’e not stupid.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
  • That was celebrated by the lefties as liberation, or something stupid like that.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Only this week, Conway doubled down with a stunt in front of Mfume’s district office, an act that would be immature and juvenile in an elementary school student government election, let alone a campaign for Congress.
    Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Faced with the prospect of deciding between Urlacher, a late bloomer in high school who almost wasn’t recruited before becoming a college All-American, and Michigan State receiver Plaxico Burress, regarded throughout the NFL as gifted but immature, the Bears did not have to choose.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Flimsy nozzles crack and leak, and heavy-duty nozzles get tiring to hold when your garden calls for more watering time than your hands can handle.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Swift herself talked about how tiring the tour was and what her plans for the future were last October on BBC Radio 1 with Greg James.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • For any adolescent, a private bedroom is both sanctuary and mood board.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Khan is associate program director for the child/adolescent psychiatry fellowship at University of California, Los Angeles.
    Sarah Mohiuddin, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Banchero up-and-down The Magic superstar forward got off to a slow start by opening 1-for-6 from the field, including missing his first four 3-pointers.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • More Americans are heading into retirement without a pension, and are instead leaning on savings accounts and investment portfolios that have become increasingly subject to market swings and the slow erosion of inflation.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Another resident, Jennifer Arnold, says someone needs to take accountability for the juvenile crime after witnessing the video of the children's joyride.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • One afternoon in November, just north of the small Oregon coastal town of Yachats, a juvenile humpback whale tumbled ashore.
    Robin Romm, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Jejune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jejune. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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